DHAKA: The amount of imports of Bangladesh has increased over $16 billion (11.36 percent) in the first five months of 2014-15 fiscal year.

The central bank of the country, Bangladesh Bank (BB), disclosed the matter on Monday.

According to BB, the settlement of letters of credit (LCs) stood at $16,200.84 million in July-November, compared to $14,548.43 million, in the first five months of last fiscal year (2013-14).

Overall import orders of Bangladesh increased by 14.77 percent in July-November in this fiscal year, the data showed.

The overall import orders, officially known as fresh opening of import LCs, increased to $17,738.33 million in July-November, up from $15,455.46 million in the same period of the last fiscal year.

The data showed a slower growth in economic activities that felt the pinch of intensified political unrest due to a series of hartals, blockade and other political and non-political acts of violence.

BDST: 1935 HRS, JAN 26, 2015